News

House Passes VA Reform Bill

8/1/2014

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The
House overwhelmingly voted to approve VA reform legislation Wednesday
afternoon. The $17 billion compromise
bill was unveiled Monday by Senate VA Committee Chair Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
and House Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) and was
expected to pass both houses quickly. The bill will allow those veterans who
live more than 40 miles away from a VA facility to seek care elsewhere and
grant newly
confirmed Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald the ability to fire
staff, among other things. “The Department of Veterans Affairs is in the midst
of an unprecedented crisis caused by corruption, mismanagement, and a lack of
accountability across the board. VA is in need of reform, and I applaud my
colleagues in the House for passing legislation to do just that,” said House
Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) in a statement.
“This is an honest solution to an urgent problem. One that is focused on making
government more accountable and providing veterans with real choice in their
health care decisions.”